Primary Care Considerations for the Pediatric Endurance Athlete
Rhonda A Watkins1,2, Rafael Verduzco Guillen3
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. rhonda.watkins@ucsf.edu.
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine
|January 29, 2024
Summary
Pediatric endurance athletes face risks like overtraining and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). Early intervention and multidisciplinary care are crucial for their safe, lifelong participation in sports.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric sports medicine
- Exercise physiology
- Adolescent health
Background:
- Endurance sports are increasingly popular among youth athletes.
- Limited literature exists on the specific medical concerns of pediatric endurance athletes.
- Understanding unique physiological adaptations in young athletes is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review medical concerns in pediatric endurance athletes.
- To highlight risks such as overtraining and RED-S.
- To inform the care of this growing population.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of medical concerns in pediatric endurance athletes.
- Analysis of risk factors and potential health implications.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on athlete care.
Main Results:
- Pediatric endurance athletes are susceptible to overtraining, relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), overuse injuries, nutritional deficits, and sleep disturbances.
- Youth runners and female athletes are at higher risk for RED-S.
- Cardiac adaptations in young athletes may differ from adults, with long-term effects uncertain.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary care, including screening and early intervention, is vital for pediatric endurance athletes.
- Mitigating modifiable risk factors is key to addressing nutritional deficiencies.
- Optimizing care promotes safe and sustained participation in lifelong sports.
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